Hotel and private tour in venice

[CARGAL99]

We are going to be sailing on the Norewegian Gem on August 14th and leaving out of Venice. We are going to spend a couple of days pre-cruise in Venice. Does anyone have suggestions on a great hotel that we can stay in that would be somewhat close to the port that the ships sail out of? If not, then maybe something close to the airport.

 

We would also like to take a Private day tour while in Venice if anyone can recommend someone that they may have used before. We cruise a lot but have never been to Venice. We are a family of 4, 50, 52, 68, 67 and one in the group can do limited walking.

 

Thanks so much for your help! This is our anniversary and we are taking our parents and want it to be very special!

[Earl Rosebery]

We are going to be sailing on the Norewegian Gem on August 14th and leaving out of Venice. We are going to spend a couple of days pre-cruise in Venice. Does anyone have suggestions on a great hotel that we can stay in that would be somewhat close to the port that the ships sail out of? If not, then maybe something close to the airport.

 

We would also like to take a Private day tour while in Venice if anyone can recommend someone that they may have used before. We cruise a lot but have never been to Venice. We are a family of 4, 50, 52, 68, 67 and one in the group can do limited walking.

 

Thanks so much for your help! This is our anniversary and we are taking our parents and want it to be very special!

 

We need more info. "great hotel" could mean the Gritti Palace which is considered the very best. However it is extremely expensive. 4* hotels near St Mark's square cost double compared to a perfectly fine boutique hotel a few minutes away.

 

If you want it to be memorable, do not stay at the airport.

 

I would go to trip advisor and pick any one of the top 10. We ended up at Ca 'Angeli and loved it. However it was necessary to travel by water taxi to make it truly delightful. There are 5 or 6 comparable spots.

 

The Hilton has been getting raves but you can stay in a Hilton anywhere and it is slightly away from the main city. Venice is very small and easy to get around by water bus and walking.

 

To make it memorable, you need a guide book. Also borrow 'City of Falling Angels from your library, and read 1 or 2 of Donna Leon's mystery series. If you like those, there is a book called Brunetti's Venice and there are walking tours of Brunetti's Venice. The self guided tours in Rick Steeves's Venice guide book were very good.

 

This is just the beginning of your research. The more you do, the better your

trip will be. Have a wonderful anniversary.

[CARGAL99]

Thanks for your help! I will see what trip advisor recommends and go from there!